by Han Yang
The enemy threw their bow to the ground, grasped a hilt on its belt, and whipped out a sword. I leveled my weapon at the other archer, waiting for the right moment, and never finding it.
I grunted, spinning to retreat. A sharp pain erupted in my left butt cheek. I shouldered a tree, rotating myself and stalling my run into a stumbling.
“You shot me!” I yelled out in reaction to the arrow in my booty.
The only reply was the zap of the ladies firing holes into the last archer.
That left me and the leperas with its sword out. My foe gained on me with a bellowing war cry.
Well, crap, this wasn’t good.
I hobbled to the best clearing I could find and readied to greet the last warrior. With the steadiest aim possible, I tracked my foe who bobbed in and out of trees for cover.
This leperas was a clever one, opting to hound me while preventing a clean shot. I braced my blunderbuss against my shoulder, narrowing the cone. I waited, knowing I was only going to get a single shot.
The black eyes of my enemy were fixated, the grin this monster humanoid displayed had me worried. A slight flick of the enemy’s eyes and I realized the slug had caught up to me.
“Drat!” I exclaimed, diving face first into the leafy forest floor.
I watched with frightened amazement as the slug crashed into the leperas, both careening into a fall. From my belly, I fired into the mass of the enemy.
BOOM!
The weapon snapped back, breaking a metallic thumb and sending the buttstock right into my face.
A fraction of a second later, I went into unconsciousness.
∞∞∞
I awoke to a cool breeze and the scent of a campfire. My hand shot to my forehead where a wrap protected my skull. I left it in place, noticing I was missing a thumb on my mechanical hand.
Awe. Hey, where’d my clothes go?
I peered out the open slot to see the sun had retreated for the day. Getting out of the two beds that had been converted into one, I found a ladies robe hanging for me.
My hand traced bubbled scars on my calf that I shouldn't have, adding to my confusion. Dressing in a robe about two sizes too small I headed for the two ladies who were chit chatting around a fire.
The creak of the axle and the groan of the door hinges let them know I was coming out. Ginli and Joana smirked at my outfit. Using the stairs resulted in me having to pee. A quick detour resulted with my arrival at the fire a few minutes later.
“How ya feelin?” Joana asked patting the seat on the log besides her.
Steambots marched in perfectly timed counter patterns to secure the perimeter. A stew was lightly boiling over the fire. There was no loot being sorted or bodies piled around and the girls looked content.
“Great, minus the thumb and these burn wounds,” I said, seating myself slowly. She leaned into me to remove my head wrap gently. “I take it something happened.”
Ginli nodded, slurping soup to finish her bowl. Joana handed me a steamy broth with mystery meat in it.
“Turtle soup. I made it, and you love my cookin,” Joana said with a pleasant sass. “Good ta see ya smilin.”
I blew on the hot liquid, letting it cool a bit. Ginli said, “The thumb has to go back on with you awake. Part of the mystic of the world. I personally think it’s so you can't add or remove parts from people sleeping. Only exception is babies.”
“And my leg?”
“Mostly healed. You mortally wounded the slimipede. Random creature, at the wrong place, at the wrong time. Almost worthless because they’re so damn easy to kill. So… I was wrong, and forgive me, Bradley,” Ginli’s apology was sincere.
Why she apologized, well, that left me uncertain. I slurped a bit of yummy turtle stew. “You’re forgiven.”
She scoffed, Joana chuckled, and I drank more of this delightful meal. “You’re right Joana, every time I taste your cooking I raise the bar on what anyone else can achieve. It's even better than the gator steaks.”
Joana blushed red with batting eyelashes. “What were you sorry about?” Joana asked Ginli.
“There are proverbs and ancient text. The gods have favorites. Heck, we both read Harcules growing up. Son of a god, forgotten memories, and achieves the miraculous. Eh… Time to come clean.
“I’ve got sisters, everyone knows that. Well, the Mistress offered a chance at taming a potential demi-god. Or at the very least working with a blessed. With my desperation to be a mother myself, I jumped at the offer. Which you know I wanted to help you, and I’ve been mostly honest with you. So… The I’m sorry part.
“Well, that was a decent leparas guard station. If you really were a 9.5 then you’d struggle. If you were special, I’d see you shine, and report to mom that you were indeed something more than… normal. Needless to say, you failed. The bonus is, I can report this as truth, and swear on it. She’ll still want to know why you kicked Tarco out of his parts room, but we’ll figure that out sooner or later.”
I continued to eat while she talked, enjoying the soup. “This isn’t some surprise. Well, I guess putting me in harm's way is, but I agreed to it. And,” I wagged my finger, “I feel I did pretty well, minus the arrow in my butt, slug on my leg, and knocking myself out. Eh, maybe you have a point.”
Ginli giggled with a leg pat to sooth her chuckles. “Cute butt by the way, you already lost a boot and a pair of pants. The good news is we killed a dozen leparas. That is some serious H. Like… we could go home and be golden to get you parts for your toy, some new weapons and so forth.”
Joana blurted excitedly, “Did you know a twenty sided container is called an icosahedron? What a cool name right!? So much H!”
I slurped the last of the soup and Joana instantly refilled it. “That is great news Ginli, and I like learning, Joana, cool name indeed. Also, it’s nice to hear the risk was worth the reward.” Joana handed me my soup. “Shucks, thanks Joana. You’re the best.”
She kissed my forehead tenderly, and I could feel an angry scare. “Thanks for helping us win.”
“Yeah… Bradley, we won because of you. Sorta. It’s not over. Not even close. These leparas give H containers bigger than a fist and man o’ man, they’re a great haul. They drop so much condensed H mainly because they can fight back without a swarm. Joana had some crack shots. Her stats improved on aim and perception.”
Ginli came over, taking out her checker from a side pocket, and placing it in my foot hole. I was certainly looking forward to getting a second metallic hand to have my insert point there. I may have stolen a glance at her bent over, exposed breasts. I was only a man after all.
The device beeped with its flash of light. Ginli didn’t blush at catching me eyeing her cleavage. She placed the device in front of my face to show my rating.
GEARNIX READINESS SHEET
Name: Bradley
Origin: Ocarna
Race City: Human
Gender: Male
Resident City: Langshire
Rating: 10.3
Strength: 10
Endurance: 6
Perception: 6
Burst: 6
Luck: 11
Reflex: 11
Charisma: 14
Charge: 85%
Healing: 3
Intelligence: 18
Melee Combat: 12
Crafting: 0
Aim: 5
Dexterity: 8
Steambot Mastery: 0
“Oh, I’ll come down a bit after the charge drops down. Still good gains,” I said with a smile.
“Indeed. You… you're going to need more sleep to finish healing. Surprised your eyes aren’t getting droopy. Will you trust us to take care of you?” Ginli asked and I frowned.
“Yeah. Of course, I’m team Langshire slash team Mistress for now. I… I don’t commit to much, but when I do, I honor my word. Are you wanting to clear the cave or go home?” I asked.
“Well, you’re the hurt one. She got two points in aim, a point in luck, and reflexes,” Gin
li said, inclining her head to Joana. “We talked, and these gains will help her if… if… you become a cat.”
“Hey, I just said I’d stick it out with ya both,” I blurted defensively.
Ginli came over to get close to me. “This cave, it will change Joana’s life forever. Already has. I need you to ignore her batting eyelashes, cute smiles, and soft embraces. You can send her home and she could go to Ocarna with this H to start a whole new life. Fresh start. Think about that.”
I opened my mouth and shut it. This wasn’t a shocking revelation to Joana. She wasn’t red in the face, or caught off guard. They’d talked about this. She could probably tell I was putting up a wall and not letting her in.
“I… I’m different. You girls are making me feel pressure. How about we keep cracking at the cave, see what wonders it holds, and if things get dicey again, we head home. I know I need a thumb, there's two spare steambots, and a dozen working ones -”
“Hey! Those are highly trained helpers. No science projects. It cost me fortunes to get them to the level they are,” Ginli said with a scoff.
I yawned, setting my bowl down. “I’m off to bed, we can talk more about this later. Joana, will you snuggle with me?”
Her eyes flared whites with surprise and she eagerly nodded. Ginli chuckled at her cute behavior. I tenderly ran a hand down her cheek, and she didn’t let it leave for a minute.
When I got up to head to the carriage, my first step was a stumble as a cascading tiredness washed over me.
Both ladies helped me into the bed in the carriage. Ginli forced me to stay awake while she reattached my thumb. I drifted off for a sleep with Joana singing sweet lullabies.
Intermission 1
“Ohey!” Charlie smacked Dedric in the back of the head. “Dedric, when da boss man calls ya in for a big meetin, yer supposed da wear yer finest.”
“I get paid crumbs. Tis is ma finest,” Dedric grumbled. He looked pathetic. No way they’d not get upset.
Twin steel doors hissed open, telling Charlie this was his big moment. When the parting doors revealed the interior of the room he gulped.
The big two factions sat across from each other, some of the most powerful men and women of the small nation stared daggers at him and his underdressed peon.
Taking a brave step forward, he entered the room to stand where a porter indicated. Seated at the head of the table was Tarco.
“Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. Good ta see ya. I need a test of yer loyalty,” Tarco said, an edge of disdain on his voice. The man scooted his chair back, placing knuckles onto the table. Tarco’s withering gaze made him understand what he wanted.
“Anything, Lord Tarco,” Charlie said confidently.
Lord Tarco was the secret head of the Gerbas Faction, and Charlie’s uncle. Charlie had been a plant in the Mistress’s forces as much as his cousin Pablo had been a plant in her bed. Charlie already suspected what the request would be, placing a hand on his sidearm in anticipation.
His uncle looked from him to Dedric. Back to Charlie, then to Dedric, then a nod.
Charlie trained for moments like this. As a lower noble, and guard captain, drawing a sidearm rapidly was literally a life safer.
He whipped his weapon out, shoving the barrel to the side of Dedric’s stunned head. The man went to defend himself when Charlie pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The echoing retort silenced the room.
The body of his fellow guard crashed to the fancy tiled floor with twitching spasms. He really should have worn something nicer.
When the hiss of his revolver calmed, he stuck the weapon back in his belt.
“Please have a seat,” Tarco said. A crew moved hastily to dispose of Dedric’s body, likely to convert it into fishing bait. “You missed our conversation but we reached terms.”
“Excellent,” Charlie said, taking a seat. He was careful to limit his slang, especially in such a formal setting. “New leadership is exactly what Langshire needs to push the walls back, expand the ports, and increase tourism.”
“And a zoo,” a minor Rooki Faction noble said, eliciting laughter from around the table.
When there was quiet again, Tarco said, “Glad you see it the way we do. The Mistress had a good run. However, there have been no expansions lately. Something a grand nation needs. You’re here for a few reasons. Our plans have hit a very minor snag. Tell us of this Bradley from Ocarna.”
Charlie gave the exact recounting he’d told his captain, sparing no detail. At the end of his speech, Tarco eyed an attractive woman in an angled wide brimmed hat with dark piercing eyes. That would be Jevina, the Rooki spymaster.
“Exactly as we heard and matches everything we know. He is not a threat. This… Bradley is not a second coming of some fictitious demi-god. He is a mortal that a rat hurt. Hell. The retelling from the Mistresses' own torturers say he broke his own ribs in a night hunt. It's Ginli we need to worry about,” she said with a sharp tone.
Tarco shot her a glare, as if she’d said too much. “Listen Charlie. When Ginli returns you have to be at the gate. So you sleep there until she hits the eastern checkpoint. She is to be escorted for a blimp immediately. What was that place that Leon mentioned?” Tarco said, snapping as he fought to remember.
“Nornfree,” Pablo said to his father. “Three train connections, and about six months travel. We can fly a small blimp in a week or so, but -”
“Winds right!” Tarco gave out a blimp operator's curse. “We need her far,” Tarco said with a grumble. Charlie kept his lips shut. He knew better than to inject his opinion in such a meeting. “Thoughts?” Tarco said to Jevina.
“Expend the blimp. You need her alive, ensure she is just banished or else the people will riot. That’s an easy sale and we need a clean transfer of power.
“We sell it as she is off with a dashing new man to conquer a city on hard time. Those who favor her and the old ways can join her. Very clean.
“Especially when her oldest sister dies tonight in a fire with her lover. Kinnlie was sent to Korvi on a trade mission by the Mistress herself. For stability, she’ll be barred reentry. That takes care of the two eldest,” Jevina said with a snicker.
Tarco laughed. “Kinnlie is vain and about luxury. She’ll be sent money to keep quiet. That does it then. Charlie. It all rests on you. If Ginli makes it to the guard station, then we have a street war. No one wants a street war. And Charlie, especially Ginli. She’d lose and get good men and women killed for nothing, so don’t think you're hurting her.”
Charlie smiled with a pinch of his top hat. “Merely have the blimp nearby and she’ll never realize what happened.”
“Glad I could count on ya Charlie. When things settle, you’ll get a promotion,” Tarco said proudly.
“I got oaths to the Mistress, they’ll… leave me in a bind,” Charlie admitted and the table laughed. This caught him off guard and he frowned.
“So did half this table,” Pablo mentioned.
Jevina snorted and said, “A lot of oaths were broken as of about two hours ago.”
“Mistress Patrica is dead, buried at the bottom of the sea after falling overboard during her maiden voyage inspection of The Lang. That’s right. The vain project she wasted all those hard earned and heavily taxed hydrox cubes on, was her demise. If only she hadn’t built a mega gambling boat,” Tarco said and Charlie wasn’t surprised.
If he was honest with himself, he was shocked it took this long. Then again the Mistress had been great on placating the factions. Not that Charlie cared. He was a useful tool with a mission. Right now, he needed to focus on stopping Ginli from entering Langshire without bloodshed.
He was certainly up for the challenge. “Lords and ladies. If that is the case may I propose a plan?”
“Better be a good one,” Tarco said and the others laughed.
After a careful explanation, Charlie was given an approval. And just like that, Ginli was taken care of.
CHAPTER 13
“T
his’ll work?” Ginli said, burying the cast iron smelter in the coals of the fire.
“Thanks. I knew metals had different melting points, but not this neat trick,” I said.
She smiled. “Always bring these to a mine. Making bars of metal instead of clumps not only means an easy to move object but we can carry more of them. The actual smithies will melt down what we haul back into coins or whatever.”
“I’m back,” Joana said, carrying clumps of wood on a hand cart. “Ya still wanting to tinker that head ya found?”
“Yeah, going to custom fix the tear with silver. This morning, I got an arm off one of the busted steambots. It is a start. How was wood collecting?”
Joana tossed her finds onto a growing pile. This morning had been mostly prep work for a long day of fighting. Ginli ensured us that getting things prepped now, would be easier than later.
“With this silver melting, it’s another step closer.” Ginli dusted the dirt off her hands. “Long way to go, but these steambots are tough to fix when they take battle damage. That clump should be liquid by the time we’re back, and now is the last chance to pee, or whatever, before we go,” Ginli said.
I double checked my gear, carrying a long rifle this time too. I felt slightly overburdened when we walked to the cave. Ginli had a single steambot pulling a little cart with her pack on it. I was somewhat envious.
“What do you want to learn about today?” Ginli asked.
“Hmm…” I paused to think about which question to resolve.
Joana teased, poking me in the side. “Marriage contracts!”
Her jest was done in a way that caused chuckles instead of awkwardness. The idea of contracts was bugging me though.
“The guilds and mercenary companies. I hear them mentioned a lot. Since they’re essentially military organizations do they have rules too?”
“Good question. Others will have asked if you're starting an adventuring guild,” she mentioned and I nodded.
“Ya, not sure what that entails, or the why.”
Joana said, “An adventuring guild can also become an adventuring company. A mercenary company can never become a mercenary guild. It goes off size of operation.
